Finding the biggest charge: Cost analysis to quantify electricity consumption in the operating room

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Operations
• Energy Management
• Environmental Sustainability

Background:

• Operating room (OR) device energy consumption contributes to high hospital costs and emissions.
• Limited analysis exists on individual device energy use in US ORs.
• This study quantifies OR equipment energy expenditure to inform sustainability initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the energy expenditure of commonly used OR equipment.
• To establish a baseline for future OR sustainability efforts.
• To analyze the financial and environmental impact of OR device energy consumption.

Main Methods:

• Quantified electrical use (kilowatt-hours) of 29 common OR devices using technical ratings and estimated use times.
• Categorized devices as structural or procedural.
• Scaled cost calculations based on 2024 electrical prices for average and large hospitals.

Main Results:

• Average hospitals spend $19,207 annually on OR equipment electricity; large hospitals spend $189,327.
• Highest energy consumers include stand-alone suction, C-arm x-ray generators, and heated air devices.
• Procedural devices constitute 64% of total annual electrical costs.

Conclusions:

• OR equipment electricity costs at large hospitals rival those of 5 schools; average hospitals equate to a warehouse.
• Optimizing usage, like turning off suction devices for 1 hour daily, can save significant costs ($4,650.56/year).
• Implementing incremental reforms in OR equipment utilization can substantially reduce hospital expenses and carbon footprint.